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Monday, September 17, 2012

A visit with the dermatologist

I want to quickly touch on some important points that came up at my appointment with my dermatologist today. I went in for a mole that's on my arm and was showing warning signs. It's easy to remember these five warning signs simply by remembering ABCDE: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Elevation. For more information, click HERE.

Anyway, my derm scheduled an appointment for me to come in and have the mole removed, just in case. They'll test it, of course; however, I'm hoping it's nothing.

My point is this: SUNSCREEN. Seriously.

I am the most militant person I know about wearing sunscreen. I would encourage everyone to take skin care seriously. Not only for the vanity of good looks (less wrinkles, younger-looking skin), but also for your health. Melanoma is no joke.

Secondly, my doctor prescribed an alcohol-based topical product to help combat acne. I don't have much but this will be good at preventing the occasional flare up. I told him that I had heard alcohol was bad for collagen production and could cause wrinkles. He laughed and said this:

"Only three things cause wrinkles. One - smoking cigarettes, which I hope you don't do any of. Two - unprotected sun exposure, which I hope you don't do any of. Three - time, which I hope you have a lot of!"

Lol. I agree! Of course, I have also heard that tugging and pulling at your skin can cause wrinkles, but that's pretty common sense.

Anyway, this is a serious post to remind you to go to your dermatologist if you feel you have any questions or concerns about your skin. And please, please wear sunscreen! Remember, I'm not a doctor but please talk to your doctor about your skin!